The Taurus 2010 brings back the idea of the 'personal sedan'---a true 'me' car. SUVs, minivans and the whole mess of soccer mom oriented cars are out of fashion for many reasons one need not list here. I asked Jody Victor to give us the details.

Jody Victor: The 2010 Ford Taurus is probably not the car you are expecting it to be. It has refinement and good looks—as Ford’s new flagship it should. Having ceded the role of basic sedan to the Fusion, the new Taurus is a force to be reckoned with. Weighing in at 4,015 lbs (4,224 lbs with AWD) and 203 inches Ford could have easily dropped the Taurus name altogether—this model is that far beyond any former Taurus.

Though similar to the Lincoln MKS, the Taurus is more interesting. Its greenhouse is more mainstream than the MKS, offering plenty of headroom without an exaggeration to the forum that cursed the last version. It has a chop-top look to it, again not exaggerated (perhaps like the Chrysler 300C), it instead has a menacingly cool-daddy look to it.

The new Taurus’ sculpted hood gives the car a somewhat “muscle” look as well as its wide stance, with its wrap around projector lens xenon headlights, and the new tri-bar grille (a recent Ford trademark). Throw in the Taurus’ flared wheel wells, “suck-sculpted” panels, its sharp, tapered tail and dual exhaust you’ve got a flagship car that appeals to more than one demographic.

The 2010 Taurus sports a transverse-mounted 3.5 liter Duratec V6 for 263HP and 249lb-ft of torque. The SE model is equipped with a regular six-speed automatic transmission. SEL and Limited buyers will be using a SelectShift slusher with paddle shifters. The Taurus will be FWD standard, but AWD will be available in the SEL and Limited models. 

The Taurus, as fitting a new flagship, is loaded—adaptive cruise control, collision warning with brake support; and it all works in unison to create a true twenty-first century driving experience. With all the latter technology crammed into this new Taurus, fuel economy wasn’t left out in the cold; Ford updated the Taurus with a two-speed fuel pump and aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off technology. What does that all mean? When your foot isn’t into the pedal you are saving fuel. The EPA suggests mileage ratings will be around 18mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway for the FWD, AWD rates at 17/25.

As for the interior, one word is sufficient. Class.  As in, “top of the class” or “classy”.  The twenty-ten Taurus features leather seats (available ventilated seating) and active motion massage functions. The driver and passenger seats in front have good bolstering, but aren’t scoped like some sportier cars in its class. They appear comfortable and with the adjustable pedal system offer a wide range of settings to fit many drivers comfort needs. Microsoft Sync is available as an upgrade and includes traffic, directions, and 911 assistance. Sirius travel link and a Sony audio system will also be available.

Between its techno-junkie appeal, high class interior and redesigned exterior Ford has reinvented a forgotten class of car, the personal sedan. Some are even saying this may be one of Ford’s best sedans in their corporate history.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be looking for this car in the dealerships and on the road soon!

Joe Victor

Incentives on new cars are high, probably at an all-time high—this has a lot of car owners wondering: “Is my clunker a keeper?” It is a good time to buy a new car, but is it possible to squeeze another 50,000 miles or so out of your old car? What if your old car is paid off and in good condition? Are you thinking of buying just because it’s a good time or do you need a new car. These deals must have a shelf life, is it worth waiting? With so much on-the-line, I asked Jody Victor to answer these questions for us.

Jody Victor: Vincentric, an automotive-research firm, compared the cost of several new vehicles to their five-year-old counterparts. It was assumed the used vehicles were paid off and the new vehicles were paid for with five-year 6.6% loans and 15% down. Taking into consideration total ownership costs over five years: insurance, fuel, repairs and depreciation, survey says—your clunker might be a keeper.For example, a new Chevrolet Malibu will cost $33,064 over five years, or $7,343 more than the $25,721 it would cost you to maintain a 2004 model that's paid off.

The biggest expense for new-vehicle owners is depreciation, while maintenance and repairs remain the most common “big expense” for used vehicles. For five-year-old vehicles repairs can cost twice as much and maintenance as much as three times more.

Between the economy and the fear of unemployment more people are going with what appears to be the value route—keeping used vehicles and paying for repairs. R.L Polk an auto-info firm found that vehicle ownership length increased to four and a half years in ’08 (up from four years in ’02).

Another reason to keep that well-loved vehicle is that you must pay on your new car every month, with used cars some repairs are going to be optional. And if you've taken very good care of your used car you likely won’t encounter monthly repairs. There are two things to consider with old cars, though. First, a transmission rebuild is going to cost around $3,000. Second, if a used car has been unreliable or needed repairs from day one (in the case of secondary ownership). Either of these cases are so-called “deal breakers” when weighing the options of new or old.

Government incentives might make you consider sending the clunker to the junkyard. State and local taxes can be written off on new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles purchased from February 17 through the end of ’09.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be sure to use these tips before buying new!

Joe Victor 

Remember that “check list” Jody Victorsuggested last time? Here are some more items you can add to that list to make sure you are buying a good, safe used car.

Jody Victor: Make sure the mileage rates at about 15,000 per year (ie; a five year old car should have about 75,000 miles on it). The engine oil should be reddish brown in color (not black). Check under the car for frame damage—this is the best way to tell if the car has been in a major accident. Check for broken windows, mismatched tires, any of these kinds of clues might let you know the previous owner didn’t take good care of the car. Check your state and county emissions regulations and that the car meets those regulations, has current tags and that the air conditioner is working properly.

Test driving the car is a must! You can listen to the engine and get a feel for the breaks—if they are not working properly this can be a costly repair. Test the car in different conditions: hills, stop and go traffic, highways. However the best advice is to spend $150 for an independent mechanic to check out the car, the most objective opinions are going to come from independent garages.

Also remember, the best new cars make the best used cars—look for top-rated brands and models.

Once you are ready to shop, where should you go? There are many options for used cars including franchise and independent dealers, rental and leasing companies, used car specialty stores, and of course private owners. However private owners are the most risky unless you are buying from someone you can trust, a friend or family member—dealers must follow several laws dictating what they can sell.

At dealerships many used cars in showrooms are not trade-ins from individuals, but come from lease and rental companies, which tend to be better cars because of regular maintenance and lower mileage. On the flipside, however, private sellers might be more willing to yield to lower prices.

Now, you might be ready to start bargaining. Shop around and see what others are asking for the same make and model that matches, as closely as possible, the car you are interested in. Start bargaining below that number, the worst that can happen starting low is a “no” answer. If you find problems with the car according to the checklist, mention these during the negotiations—this may help you get the price you want.

After determining who to buy a used car from, and using the stated tips to evaluate the cars you like, you can start bargaining. Goog Luck!

Thanks, Jody! Great tips!

Joe Victor

College students are at a higher risk of being conned when buying used cars. They are inundated with advertising, high pressure and sometimes devious sales pitches. I asked Jody Victor to give us some tips for buying a car the first time.

Jody Victor: Often college students are easy to con, not because they are not smart, but because they lack car-buying experience that would give them a more discerning eye—especially when many are most interested in price-ranges, whether legitimate or not, used car dealers advertise.

One immediate tell of the unscrupulous sales pitch is if the salesman claims anything is “perfect”. Another tip is to research the classification of the cars you are interested in—you don’t want a car classified as ‘salvaged’ simply because its been in an accident and will tend to have more problems.

Beware of advertisements that promise financing to first-time-buyers or people with bad credit. These offers often demand a large down payment and high APR. These schemes are usually associated  with used car marketing because dealers make more on used cars than new ones. A dealer’s profit margin on a new car is essentially fixed, while the buyer will never know what the dealer paid for a used car.

Beware of aggressive salespeople—don’t be pressured by lines like “I’ve got several buyers interested in this beauty, make a quick decision”. It could simply be that that particular “beauty” represents a very high profit margin. A similar or better car at a price that is within your means will always be worth the wait.

Education is key—do some research before you begin the search. Also, be prepared to examine the used car with an inspection checklist. Many magazine articles, books, and web sources offer checklists concerned with buying used cars. I suggests examining the car in daylight on a sunny day—cloudy, rain days and nighttime conditions will do funny things to your perception.

Thanks, Jody! We'll be sure to pass this first part on - looking forward to part two.

Joe Victor